Learning Transfer: Visual, Auditory or Kinaesthetic?

Most have heard of the three common learner preferences; Visual, Auditory and Kinaesthetic – otherwise known as VAK. Originally developed by Walter Burke Barbe, theories around VAK learners propose that every individual has a sense through which they learn best.

I’ve been pondering this in the context of learning transfer.

At Lever, we deliver amazing results over the phone with our learning transfer solution.

Over 4000 participants from organisations around the globe have reported an average of 80% improvement in transferred skills after a learning initiative with our learning transfer solution, Turning Learning into Action. Participants also reported a 58% improvement in their ability to achieve learning objectives as a result of our learning transfer process.

We are creating this impact over the phone, and yet reportedly only 8% of people are auditory learners. So how are we creating this impact with an auditory solution?

Firstly, there is a firm difference between learning and learning transfer.

In terms of VAK styles in learning, I think we can all learn from accelerated learning tips, techniques and tools to ensure that materials, content and experiences used in instructor led training are meeting V, A and K styles for participants.

Whereas learning transfer is essentially behavioural change after learning.

Learning transfer is all about reflection. Reflection helps participants to access their inner dialogue which forms their thoughts, feelings, values and beliefs, and ultimately impacts their behaviour. I always say we are helping the participant have a conversation with themselves. In a learning transfer session, when we’re helping someone reflect over the phone, they have the opportunity to be vulnerable, anonymous, drop their mask and go deep. When they’re reflecting, their internal dialogue will sometimes visualise what’s happening in pictures, or it will feel the internal dialogue, or it will actually hear the internal dialogue. In fact, perhaps what we should do is drop the word ‘dialogue’ and use the word ‘representations’!

As we work over the phone we actually help someone access their internal representations, in whichever modality they choose to see in, be it visual, audio, or kinaesthetic.

I feel that learning transfer delivered over the phone can build on someone’s learning experience in a personalised manner, with whatever modality suits them best.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, please share them in a comment below.

Emma Weber is a recognized authority on the transfer of learning. As CEO of Lever – Transfer of Learning, she has helped companies such as Telstra, Oracle and BMW deliver and measure tangible business results from learning. Emma has also been a guest speaker at learning effectiveness conferences worldwide and authored the hugely successful book Turning Learning into Action. Much more detail around the issues and solutions examined in this article are available in the book – please feel free to download a free chapter.